Effectiveness of befriending interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Objective Befriending is an emotional supportive relationship in which one-to-one companionship is provided on a regular basis by a volunteer. It is commonly and increasingly offered by the voluntary sector for individuals with distressing physical and mental conditions. However, the effectiveness o...
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| Format: | Article |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2017-04-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/4/e014304.full |
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| author | Stefan Priebe Joyce Siette Megan Cassidy |
| author_facet | Stefan Priebe Joyce Siette Megan Cassidy |
| author_sort | Stefan Priebe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Befriending is an emotional supportive relationship in which one-to-one companionship is provided on a regular basis by a volunteer. It is commonly and increasingly offered by the voluntary sector for individuals with distressing physical and mental conditions. However, the effectiveness of this intervention on health outcomes is largely unknown. We aim to conduct a systematic review of the benefits of befriending.Design Systematic review.Methods A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to identify randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental trials of befriending for a range of physical and mental health indications including depression, anxiety, mental illness, cancer, physical illness and dementia. Main outcomes included patient-relevant and disease-specific outcomes, such as depression, loneliness, quality of life, self-esteem, social support and well-being.Results A total of 14 trials (2411 participants) were included; 7 were judged at low risk of bias. Most trials showed improvement in symptoms associated with befriending but these associations did not reach statistical significance in all trials. Befriending was significantly associated with better patient-reported outcomes across primary measures (standardised mean difference 0.18 (95% CI, −0.002 to 0.36, I2=26%, seven trials)). However, there was no significant benefit on single outcomes, including depression, quality of life, loneliness ratings, self-esteem measures, social support structures and well-being.Conclusions There was moderate quality evidence to support the use of befriending for the treatment of individuals with different physical and mental health conditions. This evidence refers to an overall improvement benefit in patient-reported primary outcomes, although with a rather small effect size. The current evidence base does not allow for firm conclusions on more specific outcomes. Future trials should hypothesise a model for the precise effects of befriending and use specified inclusion and outcome criteria. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-36ae70e8d6c7409584d642283b1a839f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-36ae70e8d6c7409584d642283b1a839f2025-02-01T18:00:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552017-04-017410.1136/bmjopen-2016-014304Effectiveness of befriending interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysisStefan Priebe0Joyce Siette1Megan Cassidy2Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKThe MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia2 Unit of Social and Community Psychiatry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London, London, UKObjective Befriending is an emotional supportive relationship in which one-to-one companionship is provided on a regular basis by a volunteer. It is commonly and increasingly offered by the voluntary sector for individuals with distressing physical and mental conditions. However, the effectiveness of this intervention on health outcomes is largely unknown. We aim to conduct a systematic review of the benefits of befriending.Design Systematic review.Methods A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to identify randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental trials of befriending for a range of physical and mental health indications including depression, anxiety, mental illness, cancer, physical illness and dementia. Main outcomes included patient-relevant and disease-specific outcomes, such as depression, loneliness, quality of life, self-esteem, social support and well-being.Results A total of 14 trials (2411 participants) were included; 7 were judged at low risk of bias. Most trials showed improvement in symptoms associated with befriending but these associations did not reach statistical significance in all trials. Befriending was significantly associated with better patient-reported outcomes across primary measures (standardised mean difference 0.18 (95% CI, −0.002 to 0.36, I2=26%, seven trials)). However, there was no significant benefit on single outcomes, including depression, quality of life, loneliness ratings, self-esteem measures, social support structures and well-being.Conclusions There was moderate quality evidence to support the use of befriending for the treatment of individuals with different physical and mental health conditions. This evidence refers to an overall improvement benefit in patient-reported primary outcomes, although with a rather small effect size. The current evidence base does not allow for firm conclusions on more specific outcomes. Future trials should hypothesise a model for the precise effects of befriending and use specified inclusion and outcome criteria.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/4/e014304.full |
| spellingShingle | Stefan Priebe Joyce Siette Megan Cassidy Effectiveness of befriending interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis BMJ Open |
| title | Effectiveness of befriending interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Effectiveness of befriending interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of befriending interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of befriending interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Effectiveness of befriending interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effectiveness of befriending interventions a systematic review and meta analysis |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/4/e014304.full |
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